Think Bigger: WNBA Plans Major Follow-Up To Historic 25th Anniversary Season
Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 05:28PM By Barry Janoff
December 9, 2021: How do you top a 25th anniversary season that was billed as historic?
Like the NFL, now in the midst of its first 17-game season, you go even bigger.
The WNBA today unveiled its 26th regular season schedule, slated to begin May 6, 2022, and end Aug. 14, with 36 games per team — the most in league history.
The WNBA played 34-game schedules from 2003-19; last season was 32 games.
The WNBA played a 28-game schedule during each of its first six seasons.
The 2022 campaign will also see the second in-season Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase, with the championship game scheduled for July 26.
Commissioner’s Cup games will be played between May 6-July 7
The 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game — teh 18th in league history — is scheduled for July 10. Pre-All-Star activities are being planned for July 9.
All 12 teams will play on the final day of the regular season.
"The 36-game schedule will provide fans greater opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via the league.
"And year two of the Commissioner's Cup brings added incentive to the first half of the season for players and teams, while offering fans conference rivalry competition through which to support their favorite teams."
The season will be followed by the playoffs under a previously unveiled new format.
Broadcast and streaming schedules, as well as specifics for the All-Star Game, will be released at a later date.
The entire campaign will end before the start of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Australia (Sept. 23-Oct. 3).
The U.S. is the defending champion and will be lead by Cheryl Reeve, head coach and GM for the WNBA Minnesota Lynx, who this week was named the new head coach for the USA Basketball women’s team.
The WNBA’s new post-season structure includes three rounds of series-play using a best-of 3-5-5 format.
The eight teams with the highest winning percentages over a 36-game schedule regardless of conference will qualify for the playoffs and be seeded based on their record.
All eight playoff teams will participate in first-round, bracket-style play consisting of four best-of-three series.
The league said the new format would potentially add eight games to its playoff footprint.
See the full 2022 schedule here.
WNBA Unveils Reboot of Playoffs For 2022
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